Electrical prospecting system



March 21, 1933. F. RIEBER 1,902265 ELECTRICAL PROSPECTING SYSTEM Filed Feb. 3, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY March 2l, was. E 'REBER v momes ELECTRICAL PROSPECTING SYSTEM Filed Feb. :5, 195o 2 sheets-sheet 2 Ffa: 6

INVENTOR ATTORNEY bodiments thereof Patented Mar. 2l, 1933 UNITED STATES FRANK RIEBEB, OF BERKELEY, GALIFRNIA, ASIGNOR T0 FRANK-IRIEBER, ING., OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CGRPORATION F CALIFORNIA nLncrmcAL rncsrncrine srsrm Application filed February 3, 1930. Serial No. 425,631.

My invention relates to electrical prospecting, and its broad purpose is to provide a method of detecting anomalies in earth conductivity, i. e., of detecting the presence of strata or other geological formations havformation, which will differentiate betweenv surface or shallow conductivity and higher conductivity in deeper layers; a method which utilizes the vertical `component ofA earth current to avoidmasking of deep effects by shallower ones; and one which requires a minimal amount of apparatus, and

is simple, easy, and accurate in its applica-` tion. Another object of my invention is to provide suitable apparatus for the practice of my method.

The invention possesses numerous other objects and features-of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of my invention. It isto be understood that I do not limit myself to this disclosure of species of my invention, as I may adopt variant emwithin the scope of the claims.

, Commercially valuable minerals ordinarily differ greatly in electrical conductivity from the relatively valueless material with which they are surrounded. This is true Whether the valuable material be petroleum, which is almost a perfect insulator, or me'- tallic ore, whose conductivity is many times greater than the rock by which it is surrounded. Electrical prospecting methods1 take advantage of these facts by passing an electrical current thru the earth and attempting to map the paths taken by the earth current. The mapping may be done either by means 'of -inductive effect, or v`by magnetometer, but in either case the medium thru which the mapping is accomplished is the magnetic field of the earth current.

There is' also a method of mapping by the surface distribution of potential between the electrodes.

Past practice has been to pass the earth current by induction, conductlon, or a combination of the two, and to conduct an instrumental survey over the area carryin the ground current. The interpretation o the electric survey is a tedious and uncertain process. The surface layers of the earth, carrying ound water in which more or less electrolytic salt is dissolved, carry a greater portion of the earth current, and therefore provide a relatively strong magnetic field which tends tomask the eld produced by anomalies in the deeper layers. Not only are these surface currents stronger, but being closer to the surveying instrument they 4 have a more concentrated field at the point of Hmeasurement, and therefore the irregularities in conductivity'in which the observer is interested appear as extremely minute second order edects.

The method of my invention, as considmagnetic `field. Thevertical components of the earth current, penetrating to the deeper layers, are responsible for practically the entire magnetic field, and particularly its horizontalcomponent. In makin the survey, the earths own magnetic iie d is balanced out, the earth currents being preferably alternating curents of low fre uenc In order to measure the magnetic fle d with a high degree ofaccuracy a nul method of reading is preferably used. 'A current of the same character as that passing thru the earth and havin a known ratio thereto is passed thru a coil to produce a known magnetic field. A magnetometer mounted at the position at which the readings are to be taken, and resonant to the frequency of the alternating current used, indicates the strength of the resultant magnetic field. The known field is then varied, preferably by changing theV position of the coil, until the magnetometer ceases to give an indlcation. The strength of the field of the earth current may thus be plotted, either in absolute units, or as a function of the position of the coil, at a plurality of points. From a suiiicient number of such plots the distribution of the earths conductivity may be inferred with a greater degree of accuracy than has been possible by former methods.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 represents in diagrammatic form the circuit used for establishing the earth current, and indicates the current paths ing the method of using a portion of the earth current to establish a known magnetic eld.

Fi ures 4 and 5 show the arrangement, relative to the magnetometer, of two forms of adjustable position coils.

-Figure 6 is a circuit diagram showing a form of tuned magnetometer using an am# pliier circuit with a string galvanometer as an indicator.

Figure 7 is a perspective view, showing the essential parts of a sensitive tuned maglnetometer which requires no electrical amplifier and which is suitable for use with the method of my invention.

The detailed operation of my system can best be understood by a comparison of Figures 1 and 2. Each of these figures represents a cross section of a portion of the earths surface layers, showing underlying strata 6, carrying an overburden 7 surmounted by a surface layer 8 which carries a major amount of surface moisture. Buried in the surface layer are electrodes 9 connected by a circuit 11 which includes a suitable generator or current source 12. The source 12 may be a direct current generator or storage battery, but is preferably a source of low frequency alternating current. In practice a convenient source is a storage battery whichsupplies its current thru a small motor-driven commutator o'perating at a frequency of from 1/2 cycle per. second to perhaps 20 cycles per second. The metallic conductor 11 is shown as spaced from the earths surface, butin practice is usually an insulated cable laid directly upon the ground.

The light lines 13 of Figure `1 indicate roughly some of the current paths between the two electrodes 9. The lines 13 should not be understood as indicating current density, but merely as indicating the general direction of the current paths. The current will so divide itself that paths of equal conductivity will carry equal currents. Thus a short path of small cross section will carry the same total current as a longer path of greater cross section, or, in other words, the current density along any path will be inversely proportional to its length multiplied by its specific resistance.

Wherethe underlying strata carry materials having a markedly diderent conductivity from the surrounding structure, the current aths will be distorted. This is illustrate character 14 indicates an oil-bearing structure whose conductivity is extremely low. In this case the effective current paths 16 are deflected upward, particularly. over the oil-bearing layer. This dedection is shown by comparison with the dotted line 13 which indicates the general outline of the current paths in a -normally conductive medium.

In the ordinary system of magnetometric surveying the magnetometer 17 would be placed lbetween the electrodes 9 as-shown. The resultant field at this point is due to the integrated effects of all of the current paths. The field due to any single path is perpendicular to the path and is proportional to the integral of the expression I sin a dl, h2

where I is the current in the individual path, ZZ is the element of path length, and a is the angle between the element cZZ and the line (whose length is h), joining it with the magnetometer. vThese lines are indicated Y. in the drawings by the reference character 15, and referred to as lines of infiuence. For any given path a varies along the path in accordance with its shape. For circuits of the physical dimensions of those here considered, only those portions closest to the magnetometer have an appreciable effect on the eld.

1 It will be apparent from an inspection of this formula that the field at the position of the magnetometer 17 is predominately vdue to the surface 4current immediately beneath the instrument. vTo an instrument at this position the deeply penetrating vertical components of current have little effect, since h is large and the angle a is very small. For these reasons it is very diilicult to dierentiate between current paths 16 and those as shown at 13 or 13. l Inv the system of my invention, a magnetin Figure 2, where the reference moaees ometer 18, arranged to measure the horizontal component of the magnetic field, is

placed beyond the line joining the electrode- 9-9, and preferably upon an extension of' this line. Atthe position where the magnetometer 18 is shown, the horizontal components of the current have practically zero effect, owing to the very small magnitude of the angle a at this point. The vertical 10 components of the current have, on the contrary,vv a predominating effect, and where the conditions shown in Figure 2 obtain a relatively large change' in reading will result, since the angle a is decreased and the distance h is increased by the distortion of components of the earth current, and hence is peculiarly adapted to show the distribution of conductivity in the lower structure.

While the set-up of Figure 2 may be used to give practical results, more accurate and easily reproducible readings can be t-aken with the circuit arrangement shown dia` grammatically in Figure 3. Here a derived circuit 21 branches from the earth circuit 11, a resistance 22 being bridged across the circuit 21 so that a predetermined ortion of the current in the earth circuit ows in circuit 21. This current flows thru a coil 23 of known dimensions. The circuit 21 is preferably carried in a twisted pair so that its net exterior magnet-ic effect is solely that due to the coil 23.

The relative positions of the electrode 9, the coil 23, and the magnetometer 18, are carefull surveyed, so that "the magnetic effecto the coil 23 upon the magnetometer is accurately determinable. The known iield of the coil 23 is then varied until it is exactly equal and opposite to that produced by the earth current. This may bedone by varying the value of the resistance 22, or by moving the coil 23 until the balance is obtained.

Two methods of obtaining the balance by the latter method are shown in Figures 4 and 5. In the arrangement shown in Figure 4, the coil 23 ismounted on a. tripod 24 at a predetermined distance D from the magnetometer 18. The coil is rotatable about a horizontal axis, and its angle from the vertical may be read upon a vertical circle 26 forming a part of the instrument. Since the magnetometer is designed to read the horizontal component of the magnetic field only, the strength of this component is proportional to the cosine of the angle of coil position as read upon the vertical circle. i

In the alternative arrangement shown in Figure 5 the coil 23 is mounted upon a horizontal scale 27 carried by two tripods 28.

In this' case the lane of the coil remains fixed, and the e ect of the coil upon the magnetometer depends upon its position on the scale 27. As in the previous case the position of the coil is varied until a zero reading is obtained from the magnetometcr 18;

In order that an extremely accuratebalance between the earth field and the known field may be obtained, it is advisable to use a tuned ma-gnetometer resonant to the froquency to the earth current. The elements of one form of such a device are shown in Figure 7. A magnetic needle 31 is carried upon a double vligament suspension 32 by a U-shaped support member 33, the tenslon von the ligament being adjustable by a suitable screw 34. The etl'ect of the earths magnetic ield upon the needle may be balanced out magnetically, or may be compensated by twisting the ligament 32.

A pair of pole pieces 36, preferably formed ofpermalloy or other highly permeable material, are mounted upon the studs 37 carried by a sub-support 38. The studs pass thru slots 39 formed in the pole pieces, and carry thumb-nuts 41 permitting adjustment ofthe air gap. A narrow gap increases the sensitivity of the instrument but tends to make it unstable.

-The pole pieces 36 serve to concentrate the magnetic field upon the magnet 31, and greatly increase the sensitivity of the device as is explained by me in Technical Publication 119.-L-1, American Institute of Mining and Metallurgical Engineers, February 19, 1928, and in my copending application Serial No. 244,507, iiled Jan. 4, 1928. When the instrument is subjected to a magnetic field in the direction of extension of the pole pieces, a couple is produced upon alternating field and upon the damping of the magnet. Since the latter quantity is extremely small the device is very sensitive..

The sensitivity can, of course, be increased by mounting 1t in a vacuum, but the additional complication is not ordinarily warranted.

A mirror 42 is mounted upon the ligament 32, and the amplitude of vibration of the magnet can be determined by viewing this mirror with telescope and scale in the manner which is familiar thru its well known use in galvanometer practice.

It will be noted that the effect of the earths permanent magnetic field is balanced out in this device thru the fact that alternating current is used, and that it is only able however,'to use a permanent magnet whose eld substantially neutralizes that of the earth in order to prevent saturation effect in the highly permeable pole pieces 36.

An alternative form of magnetometer is shown in Figure 6. This type of device is particularl applicable where alternations of higher requencies than those used in the preceding case are utilized. A coil 46 surrounds a highly permeable core 47 and is tuned to the frequency ofalternation used 'by a condenser 48.' The core 47 is mounted in the direction in which it is desired to measure the alternating magnetic field, and a bar magnet i9 is preferably mounted adjacent the core 47 to balance out the permanent magnetic eld of the earth. The coil 46 is connected across the filament and grid of a conventional type of amplifier 51, which is here shown as resistance coupled, but which may also be tuned to the frequencyA of the current used in the earth circuit if desired. The output circuit of this amplifier connects thru a transformer 52 to a string galvanometer 53, which projects its readingl upon a suitable scale 54. By tuning eac of the circuits and the string to the proper frequency, a device of greater sensitivity and selectivity may be obtained.

It is to benoted that for ordinary magnetometric work the type of magnetometer shown in Figure 7 is t e more useful. In this case the frequency of alternation used in the earth circuit is so low that inductive effects and phase rotation due thereto may be neglected. Where alternating currents of higher frequency are used, the magnetometer of Figure 6 1s more practical, but it is essential in using this device that care be taken to use the proper phase relationship as regards circuitsll and 21 as yotherwise 1t may be impossible to obtain a nul.

Although it may be possible to use waves of radio requency with my system of electrical prospecting, the diiiculties arising would normally prevent such fre uencies being'used. Where the frequencles utilized are lwithin the audible limit, the distances separating the earthcircuit andthe magnetometer are so small in com arisen with the wave length that phase di erences due to this factor may be neglected. I

Although I have shown my system as used for determinin the presence of a non-conducting bod 1t will be realized that it is also applica le to 1prospecting for metallic. ores whose conductlvity is large in comparison with the surrounding structure. In this case the effect on the magnetometer 18 is to increase instead of decrease its readings.

As in all electrical prospecting systems, the depth to which an appreciable quantity of earth current penetrates Vfis dependent upon the separation' of the electrodes 9. Where deep structures are to be investigated these electrodes must be widely separated; for shallower structures they may be placed closer together. It will also be recognized that the greater the distance between the earth circuit and-the magnetometer 18, the greater will be the relative effect of the `deeper portion of the earth currents. The

the vertical component of said current' within the earth.

2. The method of determining the distribution of earth conductivity which comprises the steps of passing a current betweenl points on the earths surface, and

measuring the vertical component of said current within the earth by evaluating the strength of the magnetic field of said component. i

3. The method of determining the distribution of earth conductivity which comprises the steps of passing a current between points on the earths surface, and measuring the horizontal component of the resultant magnetic eld at a position beyond a line connecting said points.

4. The method of' determining the distri-- bution of earth conductivity which comprises the steps of passing a current between pointson the earth s surface,'and measuring the horizontal component ofthe resultant magnetic field at a position on van extension of the line connecting said points.

, 5. The methodv of determining the distri-l bution of earth conductivity which comprises the steps of passing a current between a pair of points on the earths surface, utilizing a current having a known ratio to saidl earth current to produce a magnetic ieldvof known relative intensity, and evaluating the vertical component of the current within the earth by varying the known mag-I netic field to balance the field of said vertical component.-

.6. The method of determining the distribution of earth conductivity. which comprises the steps of passing a current between a pair of points on the'earths surface, utiliing a current havinga known ratio to said earth current to produce a magnetic field of known relative intensity, and varying the known magnetic field to balance the horizontal magnetic field produced by the earth current at a position beyond the line joining the Ipoints at which it enters and leaves the eart 7 The method of determining the distribution of earth conductivity which comprises the steps of passing a current between a pair of points on the earths surface, utilizing a current having a known ratio to said earth current to produce a magnetic ield 10 of known relative intensity, and varying the known magnetic field to balance the horizontal magnetic field produced by the earth current at a position on an extension of the line joining the points at which it enters and leaves the earth.

8. The method of determining the distri-l bution of earth conductivity which comprises the steps of passing a current between a pair of points on the earths surface, utilizing a current having a known ratio to said earth current to produce a magnetic eld of known relative intensity, and varying the position of the known magnetic ield to balance the horizontal magneticield produced by the earth current at a position on an extension of the line joining the points at which it enters and leaves the earth.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set y my hand. 3o FRANK RIEBER. 

